Apparatus for advancing filter tape in a beverage brewer, `window blind` design

Abstract

A device for brewing fresh coffee or tea from dry ingredients which uses a flexible moveable screen to filter the brewed coffee or tea and dispose of the used grounds at the completion of each cycle.

I claim as my invention: 
     
       1. A beverage brewing machine comprising in combination, an upper brewing chamber adapted to receive hot water and a beverage material and having an open lower end,   a lower chamber with an lower open upper end normally in registration and sealed with said open end,   a movable flexible filter tape mounted between said upper and lower chambers and said chambers normally clamping said portion therebetween,   a reciprocable piston mounted in said lower chamber for forcing air through said filter into said upper chamber and then providing negative pressure to withdraw brewed beverage through said filter into the lower chamber and is then expelled by gravity into the awaiting cup,   means for separating and sealing said upper and lower chambers so as to unclamp said filter,   where said piston is driven by a connecting rod which has one end pivotally connected thereto, a crank arm pivotally connected to the second end of said connecting rod, a driving shaft connected to said crank arm, and a driving means connected to said driving shaft, and   means for moving said filter tape when it is unclamped including spring biasing means connected to one end of said tape, and filter tape pulling means attached to the other end of said tape.   
     
     
       2. A beverage machine according to claim 1 wherein said filter tape pulling means comprises a cam mounted on said driving shaft, an arm pivotally connected to said lower chamber and engageable with said cam, and a flexible line connected to said arm and to said second end of said filter tape. 
     
     
       3. A beverage machine according to claim 2 wherein said tape pulling means includes at least one pulley over which said flexible line passes rotatably mounted to said lower main cylinder. 
     
     
       4. A beverage machine according to claim 3 wherein said tape pulling means includes a second pulley over which said flexible line passes rotatably mounted on said lower main cylinder. 
     
     
       5. A beverage machine according to claim 1 including a scraper engageable with said filter tape to remove used coffee therefrom.